Thursday, Tagovailoa told a group of middle schoolers at his old school in Hawaii that he talked to his dad about potentially leaving Alabama during his freshman season and was frustrated he wasn’t the starting quarterback of the Tide. From Hawaii News Now:

“Even throughout my football season, I wasn’t the starter,” Tagovailoa continued. “I wanted to leave the school. So I told myself if I didn’t play in the last game, which was the national championship game, I would transfer out. If I gave in, I don’t think I would have seen the end blessing of where I am now.”

Tagovailoa said he even called his father to ask if a scholarship from USC — which had recruited him as well — was still available.

A highly-rated recruit, Tagovailoa was the backup to Jalen Hurts for the entirety of the 2017 season. As Hurts struggled against Georgia in the title game, coach Nick Saban made the call to insert Tagovailoa into the game.

What happened next is the stuff of legend, as you know. Tagovailoa threw a long touchdown pass to Devonta Smith in overtime as Alabama beat Georgia 26-23.

Thankfully for Alabama fans and Tagovailoa himself, his parents weren’t too keen on the idea of a transfer. And now the sophomore will compete with Hurts for the starting quarterback job entering the 2018 season.